Weekend Watch: Week Eight

As I sit here ready to give you my picks for the upcoming weekend, I am currently watching my first one hold true right before my eyes. Oregon is beating the living hell out of Arizona State. Will this create some style points for the Ducks? It’s already that time of year where games mean more, intensities are higher and a lot can still happen in the college football season. But let’s take it one step at a time; here are this week’s picks. Once again as a reminder, the rankings reflect my own poll, not an official one.

#6 LSU @ #19 Texas A&M, 11:00, ESPN
While I am more than impressed with the start A&M has had to their SEC debut (and envious when you compare it to Missouri’s) and the play of Freshman Quarterback Johnny Manziel, the Aggies don’t really have any impressive wins thus far. You’re going to have to do more than beat Louisiana Tech to get my attention. Meanwhile, LSU is hot after defeating South Carolina last week. I have a feeling this one will be in the Tigers’ control throughout.Prediction: LSU 27, Texas A&M 10

#17 Texas Tech @ #21 TCU, 2:30, ABC
I don’t care how high you were on Texas Tech before last week, NO ONE called them beating West Virginia and Geno Smith by five touchdowns. Seth Doege and the Red Raiders are quietly (maybe not anymore) 5-1 and they’re catching TCU at a great time…if you’re a Tech fan, that is. TCU will finally get a test without their Quarterback Casey Pachall who is suspended indefinitely due to a DUI. Although the Horned Frogs’ defense isn’t terrible, this one really could get ugly.Prediction: Texas Tech 44, TCU 20

#7 South Carolina @ #5 Florida, 2:30, CBS
The SEC East race would be a mess if South Carolina won this one, right? While many picked the Gamecocks or Georgia to win the division, after seven weeks the Florida Gators are the ones who control their own destiny. We very well could find out who will win the division in the next two weeks as the Gators take on Georgia next week. While Carolina seems like a trendy pick, I don’t see them putting many points up on the board on an underrated Florida defense in the Swamp.Prediction: Florida 17, South Carolina 13

#4 Kansas State @ #14 West Virginia, 6:00, FOX
This game lost a lot of its attraction last week when the Mountaineers got embarrassed by Texas Tech, but the action on the field should still be just as exciting. With Geno Smith and co. dominating opponents through the air, K-State could drop six or seven in coverage all game. The Wildcats should have no problem putting up points on West Virginia’s defense, who in three conference games have given up 63, 45 and 49. The key to this game will be the Kansas State pass defense, both in the rush and the secondary. As long as they can limit Smith, this one should go to K-State.Prediction: Kansas State 37, West Virginia 31

Kansas @ #8 Oklahoma, 6:00, FSN
Unfortunately for the Jayhawks, they look set for another loss on the year. Oklahoma is coming off a BOFAK (look it up) of Texas in the Red River Rivalry last week and doesn’t look like they’ll be slowing down anytime soon. With Landry Jones throwing the ball and Blake “The Bell-dozer” Bell running over the opposition, the Jayhawks’ defense will be in for a long night.Prediction: Oklahoma 65, Kansas 7

Luckily for Missouri, they’re off this week so there’s no way they can lose. But in all seriousness, this season is really shaping out to be a good one. We’re starting to run out of weeks and teams are starting to run out of time and opportunities to get themselves into the picture. Will the favorites hold their ground or will the underdogs move themselves up in the rankings? We’ll find out Saturday.